In part two of this series we turn to some of the key studies validating or questioning harm reduction approaches, and then pick out those dealing with the major harm reduction modalities relied on in Britain and internationally. (Don’t worry if you missed part one – you can also
navigate to this by clicking on the link.) | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK

Reverend Darren Howie is a former thief and was addicted to heroin. He spent a decade in and out of prison - and was once told by a prison chaplain, when he weighed just six-and-a-half stone, that he would die once he left prison | BBC, UK

The World Health Organization (WHO) today launched ACTIVE, policy toolkit to help all governments reduce the alarming levels of physical inactivity and the related health, social and economic consequences | WHO, UK

European Alcohol Policy conference will hear that people can, and do, recover from alcohol-related problems, writes Sarah Devine. Inclusive and long-term approaches are needed to deliver successful recovery treatments, according to leading campaigner Rick Kamphuis from the Netherlands | Scotsman, UK

In addition to inhaling burned tobacco and tar, smokers breathe in toxic metals like cadmium and beryllium, as well as metallic elements like nickel and chromium — all of which accumulate naturally in the leaves of the tobacco plant | Business Insider, UK

The planned new State-funded injecting centre for chronic heroin and cocaine addicts in Dublin’s inner city is to cater for around 60 addicts each day and is to open at 6.30 each morning | Irish Examiner, Ireland

Captagon is reported to be a commonly used stimulant in the Middle East. In addition, some recent media reports have linked this drug to perpetrators of terrorist acts in Europe or terrorist groups based in areas of conflict in the Middle East. This report aims to provide an overview of what is known about the captagon phenomenon, and how it may concern Europe, to assist those working in the illicit drugs field who may need to respond to the issue | EMCDDA, Portugal

Michael Fendrich is associate dean for research and a professor in the UConn School of Social Work, whose research focuses on policies, services, interventions, and risk factors related to substance misuse and mental health. He recently published a paper about heroin addiction treatment and how it relates to previous opioid misuse history | Medical Xpress, USA

When alcohol enters the brain, it causes neurons in a specialized region called the ventral tegmental area, or VTA -- also known as the "pleasure center" -- to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that produces those feel-good sensations, and tells the brain that whatever it just experienced is worth getting more of | Science Daily, USA

Sixty-six percent of Americans now support legalizing marijuana, another new high in Gallup's trend over nearly half a century. The latest figure marks the third consecutive year that support on the measure has increased and established a new record | Gallup, USA

If numbers gauge the health of a movement, this one is flourishing. Two thousand people crammed into a vast hotel ballroom in New Orleans on October 18 for the opening of the National Harm Reduction Conference—a record for the event and also, organizers reckon, for any harm reduction conference in the world | Filter Magazine, USA

No one can claim that Nic Castle isn’t brave. “I was tracking one of the major drug dealing gangs in my area,” he begins. “I had good intel, so I stopped them–but then one turned around and stuck a handgun in my face.” | Filter Magazine, USA

The number of adults currently using e-cigarettes in the UK is close to 2.9m, many of whom will have turned to the devices to quit smoking. While certainly they may help people kick the habit, there is a big problem with e-cigarettes: we don’t actually know for certain whether they are safe or not | Conversation, UK

Event co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Norway to the International Organisations in Vienna, the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the International Organisations based in Vienna and the International Drug Policy Consortium | CND blog, UK

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